For more than a decade, Nazira Osmonalieva has served as a family doctor at Family Medicine Center No. 2 in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Every day, she cares for women and families through some of the most important moments of their lives. Today, her work is being transformed by a new generation of digital health tools that are helping doctors deliver safer, more coordinated care.
The introduction of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is changing how maternal healthcare is delivered across Kyrgyzstan. By replacing paper records with secure digital systems, healthcare professionals can access patient information more quickly, improve coordination between facilities, and ensure that mothers and newborns receive timely follow-up care.
"Lately, we have been working with EHRs, and it immensely eases a doctor's labor," Nazira shares.
"The electronic record has plenty of advantages, but the main one is that all pregnancy management data is now stored in one place. A digital record won't tear or get lost, and test results won't vanish. We can see a patient's complete health history simply sitting at our desk."
For healthcare workers, however, the transition is about much more than learning new technology. It also represents a fundamental shift in how medical information is managed and shared.
"However, behind this external convenience lies a serious internal challenge that medics are still getting used to. Shifting to 'digital' is not just about knowing which keys to press; it is a radical change in the sense of responsibility. In an old paper chart, a mistake could be neatly crossed out, a ruined sheet torn out, or a page rewritten from scratch, with a clean slate. The computer does not forgive such weaknesses. In the electronic system, every entered word, every diagnosis made, and every prescribed drug dosage remains forever. After all, behind every click of a mouse now stands transparent accountability for the most fragile thing on earth — the miracle of a new life and the peace of a mother's heart."
Closing the gaps in maternal care
One of the greatest benefits of electronic health records is strengthening continuity of care between hospitals and primary healthcare providers.
Previously, when a woman was discharged after giving birth, her paper records often travelled home with her. Follow-up visits could be delayed while healthcare providers waited for discharge information to arrive, creating a gap during one of the most critical periods for both mother and baby.
"Our main goal is to achieve full interoperability, meaning an instantaneous digital exchange of data between maternity hospitals and family doctors," Nazira emphasizes. "We are striving to ensure that the postpartum discharge summary is entered into the system by the maternity hospital in real time. The very second a happy mother and her baby are discharged home, the family doctor and the nurse in their sector should see an automatic notification: 'The woman has given birth, has been discharged, postpartum care visit required.' This will trigger a coordinated protection mechanism. Absolute continuity of care is critically important for us."
The digital system is also reducing delays in routine care. Laboratory test results are uploaded directly into a shared database, allowing doctors to review them without travelling to collect paper copies. This saves valuable time while enabling faster clinical decisions.
Better information, better decisions
Having a complete medical history in one place also helps healthcare providers avoid unnecessary duplication and improve the quality of care.
Nazira recalls a recent case in which the electronic health record provided immediate visibility into a patient's treatment history.
"One of the specialists went on vacation, and a patient from a neighboring sector booked an appointment with me," the family doctor says. "I opened her electronic health record in the database and immediately saw that literally on the same day, almost at the exact same hour, she had already visited another specialist. To my question as to why she came to the family doctor again, the girl honestly confessed that she wanted to consult two medics at once. Thanks to the electronic system, I instantly saw whom she had visited and what recommendations she had received. With a paper chart, this would have been impossible. Now we clearly see the patient's entire route, which helps avoid confusion."
Building digital skills for the future
Technology alone is not enough. Ensuring that digital systems improve healthcare also requires investment in the people who use them.
On 9–10 June 2026, Nazira and healthcare professionals from across Osh Region participated in a two-day training on the use of electronic health records through the Sanarip Clinic system. The training introduced new features designed to make daily clinical work more efficient while strengthening the quality of maternal healthcare.
Nazira believes that Kyrgyzstan's digital transformation is creating lasting benefits for both healthcare workers and the families they serve.
"We are working in an era of major and important reforms," she stresses. "I want to wish my colleagues patience and strength. We must bring this important matter to a conclusion, joining the digital work harmoniously and cohesively. This is our shared step into the future, and I am certain that success awaits us ahead."
The training sessions were organized by the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and OJSC Tunduk with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Family Planning Alliance under the UNFPA project Bridging the Digital Divide in Healthcare.
Supported through the Joint SDG Fund with contributions from the European Union, Spain and Sweden among others, the joint programme is implemented by WHO, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic. The programme is strengthening Kyrgyzstan's digital health system, particularly for women, children and vulnerable populations in rural and remote areas, helping expand access to quality healthcare while improving the continuity, efficiency and resilience of health services.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds, and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Arab Gulf Programme for Development for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
